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mayphoenix7992's reviews
685 reviews
The Wordhord: Daily Life in Old English by Hana Videen
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
4 ⭐️
When it comes to languages, I am fyrwit-georn. 😊
When it comes to languages, I am fyrwit-georn. 😊
White Nights by Fyodor Dostoevsky
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
'White Nights' was a lovely little story full of longing and loneliness. And 'Bobok' was quite funny!
It was a good introduction to Dostoyevsky's writing!
It was a good introduction to Dostoyevsky's writing!
Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson
I loved this book! 'Tress of the Emerald Sea' still is my favourite from the Kickstarters, but this book was so *unique*, but so are all of Sanderson's books.
I loved the dual worldbuilding and the Soul Connection between Yumi and Nikaro, and when it was revealed, they were from the SAME world, and she had been trapped in an eternal nightmare.... I could feel the tragic ending coming, which didn't occur in the end, but I would have been glad even if Yumi had not come back. It would have given it a sense of a bigger ending. It's a bit unfair that everyone else disappeared and not Yumi...
I was expecting to dislike Liyun and Akane, but they both turned out to be lovely characters. Well, "lovely" might not be accurate for Liyun, but she definitely became more likeable throughout the story.
I wished we knew more about the spirits, though.
I have yet to read anything with Hoid in it (besides Tress?), so I wonder if this story will become relevant in the future? 🤔 I must admit that the beginning was difficult for me to get into BECAUSE of that first pov and Hoid being narrator. I guess we'll see!
Once again, Brandon Sanderson managed to transport me into a whole other world 🥰
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I loved this book! 'Tress of the Emerald Sea' still is my favourite from the Kickstarters, but this book was so *unique*, but so are all of Sanderson's books.
I loved the dual worldbuilding and the Soul Connection between Yumi and Nikaro, and when it was revealed, they were from the SAME world, and she had been trapped in an eternal nightmare.... I could feel the tragic ending coming, which didn't occur in the end, but I would have been glad even if Yumi had not come back. It would have given it a sense of a bigger ending. It's a bit unfair that everyone else disappeared and not Yumi...
I was expecting to dislike Liyun and Akane, but they both turned out to be lovely characters. Well, "lovely" might not be accurate for Liyun, but she definitely became more likeable throughout the story.
I wished we knew more about the spirits, though.
I have yet to read anything with Hoid in it (besides Tress?), so I wonder if this story will become relevant in the future? 🤔 I must admit that the beginning was difficult for me to get into BECAUSE of that first pov and Hoid being narrator. I guess we'll see!
Once again, Brandon Sanderson managed to transport me into a whole other world 🥰
The Frugal Wizard's Handbook for Surviving Medieval England by Brandon Sanderson
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Not my favourite Sanderson but I liked it more than expected!
I liked the idea, the setting, the sci-fi aspect, most characters- my only issue was with John/Runian himself. Because he didn't remember much of his past for a good half of the book, I didn't feel like I could connect with him, but then, on the second half, I did. The second half of the story was much more compelling for me.
Ealstan ended up being my favourite character, and I'm ridiculously proud I figured out early on Thokk wasn't simply a travelling old lady.
I love the artworks and the few pages that ~accidentally~ made their way into the story. It was a good way of building the universe and explain inter-dimensional travel although...I'm a bit reticent about the easy explanation about interdimensional colonialism...
Overall, it was a great little adventure and standalone story!
I liked the idea, the setting, the sci-fi aspect, most characters- my only issue was with John/Runian himself. Because he didn't remember much of his past for a good half of the book, I didn't feel like I could connect with him, but then, on the second half, I did. The second half of the story was much more compelling for me.
Ealstan ended up being my favourite character, and I'm ridiculously proud I figured out early on Thokk wasn't simply a travelling old lady.
I love the artworks and the few pages that ~accidentally~ made their way into the story. It was a good way of building the universe and explain inter-dimensional travel although...I'm a bit reticent about the easy explanation about interdimensional colonialism...
Overall, it was a great little adventure and standalone story!
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
4,25⭐️
I LOVED this book! One of my favourite of 2024! Neil Gaiman truly has a gift. I could hardly put down this book and I understand why it's so popular. The story, the worldbuilding, the characters, it took me to some other place that I would love to discover. I want to go on the tube and explore London with a new perspective, and who knows, perhaps I'll catch some glimpses of London Below 👀
I LOVED this book! One of my favourite of 2024! Neil Gaiman truly has a gift. I could hardly put down this book and I understand why it's so popular. The story, the worldbuilding, the characters, it took me to some other place that I would love to discover. I want to go on the tube and explore London with a new perspective, and who knows, perhaps I'll catch some glimpses of London Below 👀
Providence Lost: The Rise and Fall of Cromwell's Protectorate by Paul Lay
informative
slow-paced
3.0
3⭐️
DNF - stopped at Chapter 9
I've picked up this book to clear up a few names and mentions at work, but I can confirm this isn't my favourite time period. It's not badly written, on the contrary, it's very thorough and seems well research, but it's quite dry.
It dives right into the topic, which made it difficult for me to understand everything as I am unfamiliar with the period of the Civil War. Perhaps it'll be easier to go back to it another time.
DNF - stopped at Chapter 9
I've picked up this book to clear up a few names and mentions at work, but I can confirm this isn't my favourite time period. It's not badly written, on the contrary, it's very thorough and seems well research, but it's quite dry.
It dives right into the topic, which made it difficult for me to understand everything as I am unfamiliar with the period of the Civil War. Perhaps it'll be easier to go back to it another time.
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
4⭐️
Stardust is one of my absolute all-time favourite movies so when I read the book, about 6-7 perhaps 8 years ago, I had been severely disappointed. Now that I'm older and I've read far more Faerie books, I found Stardust enchanting.
It's the perfect Faerie-story, marvellous, transporting, sweet and a little melancholic, so it's re-become one of my favourites, in another medium.
(The movie still is more romantic though!)
Stardust is one of my absolute all-time favourite movies so when I read the book, about 6-7 perhaps 8 years ago, I had been severely disappointed. Now that I'm older and I've read far more Faerie books, I found Stardust enchanting.
It's the perfect Faerie-story, marvellous, transporting, sweet and a little melancholic, so it's re-become one of my favourites, in another medium.
(The movie still is more romantic though!)
Before We Say Goodbye by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
5⭐️
I've always liked this book series, even if it's so repetitive, there's something comforting and hopeful about this story and the entire concept of returning back in time before the coffee gets cold.
If there was one book I could fall into, it'd be this one, so I could go back in time and give a last phonecall to my father. For that reason, the last chapter felt particularly personal and beautiful. It resonated with me very strongly.
I've always liked this book series, even if it's so repetitive, there's something comforting and hopeful about this story and the entire concept of returning back in time before the coffee gets cold.
If there was one book I could fall into, it'd be this one, so I could go back in time and give a last phonecall to my father. For that reason, the last chapter felt particularly personal and beautiful. It resonated with me very strongly.
Ragnarok: The End of the Gods by A.S. Byatt
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
4,25⭐️
Wonderful retelling of the norse myths leading to Ragnarok. It was fresh and lyric, and I loved re-discovering the myths through the eyes of the thin little girl, it grounded it all into reality.
Wonderful retelling of the norse myths leading to Ragnarok. It was fresh and lyric, and I loved re-discovering the myths through the eyes of the thin little girl, it grounded it all into reality.
Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
4,5⭐️
What beautiful book, one of my favourite of the year. "Enter Ghost" is one of these books which stay with you long after the last page has been turned. The intricate and sensitive writing was superb. The heavy and raw writing exhibiting the daily life of Palestinians under Israeli occupation was rich in details and *lived* experience.
What beautiful book, one of my favourite of the year. "Enter Ghost" is one of these books which stay with you long after the last page has been turned. The intricate and sensitive writing was superb. The heavy and raw writing exhibiting the daily life of Palestinians under Israeli occupation was rich in details and *lived* experience.